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Personal Explanation. 



SPEECH 

HON. R. F. PETTIGBBW, 

OF SOUTH DAKOTA. 

In the Senate of the United States, 

Friday, Jane 10, 1S9S. 

Mr. PETTIGREW. Mr. President, a controversy seems to har* 
arisen concerning the political party to which my colleague be- 
longs, and it appears to me that the time has come when the peo- 
ple of South Dakota have a right to know where he stands. It 
seems to me, owing to the conflicting accounts, the votes which 
he has cast, and the things which have been said, that the people 
of South Dakota have a right to be definitely informed regarding 
the party to which their representative belongs. I have been un- 
able to secure an utterance from my colleague on the subject, and 
the people of the country and the people of South Dakota have 
likewise failed to obtain any declaration that would settle this 
much-mooted question. 

The facts are that when he was first elected it was by a combi- 
nation of Populists and Democrats. When he was last elected it 
was by a combination of 52 Republicans, 9 so-called Populists, and 
4 Democrats. It is well known, also, Mr. President, to the people 
of South Dakota that he agreed in advance of his election by the 
Republican party to vote for the tariff bill if necessary, although 
every vote he had cast during his first six years in the Senate was 
for free frade — free wool, free barley, and free almost everything. 
He made a speech in favor of free wool. 

Mr. KYLE. Will my colleague please give the facts in regard 
to that: give his authority for the facts? 

Mr. PETTIGREW. Oh, yes; I will accommodate my colleague. 

Mr. KYLE. It is about like all the other assertions he will 
make probably — he has no facts for them at all. I deny in toto 
the statement he has made. 

Mr. PETTIGREW. I will leave the Senate to judge as to 
the facts and as to whether there is any foundation for the charge 
I make. 

The following is an extract from the speech by Senator Kyi.k 
at a ratification meeting held February 18. 1891, taken down in 
shorthand and published in the Journal of February 19, 1891. 

Mr. GALL1NGER. From what paper? 

Mr. PETTIGREW. The Pierre Journal. 

My first leaning toward the Democratic party commenced fifteen years 
ago, when I became imbued with free-trado doctrines through the instruction 
of my teacher in political economy. Further study of the economic ques- 
tions confirmed those views and drew me toward the Democrat [c ynr\ v 



EL, I* 4 



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. This was at a jollification held over his election as a Democrat — 

^ and when I found the affairs in our country dominated by a Republican 

-v • ring, I withdrew from the party and joined the opposition. The platform of 

^K" the Democratic party is the same as the Independent. They want lower 

taxes and more money to pay them with, and that is the platform I stand 

A, upon. 

When my colleague uttered these words he had just been elected 
by a combination of Populists and Democrats, and had made an 
agreement to be a free trader and support Cleveland's Adminis- 
tration. In consideration of these pledges he received the Demo- 
cratic votes. I will now read an interview with my colleague 
just after his last election, when he was voted for by 52 Repub- 
lican members of the legislature, 9 Populists, and 4 Democrats. 

[Special to the Minneapolis Journal.] 

Washington, D. C, April 5, 1S07. 

As was first predicted in Washington dispatches to tho Journal, Senator 
Kyle will support the Republicans in the Senate in all matters pertaining to 
the tariff. While he admits this, he insists that he has not changed his posi- 
tion regarding the tariff question. In an interview today he said : 

" I am not in favor of an extreme tariff measure, but with a great deficiency 
in revenues it is necessary to pass a bill that will supply the Government 
with sufficient money for its needs. 

" So far as I am concerned or the Populist party, we had no particular lik- 
ing for the Wilson bill, except that feature which provided for an income tax. 
I believe the new bill should be passed, and I will not oppose its passage. I 
think the Republicans should have an opportunity to try the methods of re- 
lief they suggest, and if they succeed in restoring prosperity no one will be 
more pleased than I. I believe the Senate will pass a moderate bill and one 
which I can probably support. I consider the bill which passed the House an 
extreme measure and feel confident it will be modified in many particulars." 

The effect of Kyle's support will practically be to insure the Republicans 
?, quorum of the whole Senate until the tariff bill is finally passed. His talk 
would indicate, however, that he does not propose to cut loose from his 
former affiliations, but merely to support the present tariff bill. 

And so the last tariff bill received not his vote, because he left 
the Senate, but he left his pair with a Republican; left it with the 
person in charge of Republican pairs; left a written pair to be 
used if necessary, but it was not used, because it was not neces- 
sary. 

Mr. KYLE. I deny that. 

Mr. PETTIG-REW. It is not necessary for you to deny it. 

Mr. KYLE. Prolably the Senator who has charge of the pairs 
can state the facts. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT. The junior Senator from South Da- 
kota is not in order. 

Mr. KYLE. I left no such instructions at all. 

Mr. PETTIG-REW. Senator Hansbrough had your pair. 

Mr. KYLE. He has no such letter. 

Mr. PETTIGRE W. Senator Hansbrough, who is present, can 
answer. 

It is generally understood in South Dakota that for the purpose 
of procuring a seat in this body my colleague made a trade with 
the Republicans, by which they agreed to vote for him and he 
agreed to support the tariff bill and to support their policy on 
everything but silver. Here is a resolution pertaining to this 
phase of the subject passed by 42 or 48 members of the legislature 
which last elected Mr. Kyle; 

Whereas in joint session of the legislature of the State of South Dakota 
this day assembled, -1am ES 11. K vi.i: received 52 Repubkieau votes, 9 Populist 
vote: , and I 1 lemocratic votes for United States Senator. 

And whereas it is reported that said JAMES II. Kvi.k has made certain 
pledges that lie will vote with the Republican party upon certain Republican 
party measures: Now. therefore. 

Be it resolved by the undersigned -free-silver members of Raid legislature, 
That tin- said Jambs II. Kyle lias not been elected by the free-silver mem- 
8470 



hers of the legislature of South Dakota, and Unit tho free-silver forces of 
this state are not responsible for his election and wo do not consider him a 
representative of the free silver cause. 

J. S. Stew art. senator, Brule County; F. W. Webb.. senator, Brown 
County; W. s. Major, senator, Hand County; M. E. Hart, sen- 
ator, Lake County; E. E. King, senator, Sanson County; L. 
Bothum, senator, Minnehaha County; c. s. Palmer, Benator, 
Minnehaha County; Win. Bradley, senator, Meade County; .1. 
Sickler, senator. Jerauld County: Bufus Whealey, senator, 
Moody County; 1. A Keith, senator, Kingsbury County; Louis 
N. Crill. senator. Union County; (L A. Sch hind, senator, Davi 
son County; J. P. Buck, senator. Pennington County; U. 8. 
Cook, senator, Aurora County; A..T. Kellar, senator. Fall River 
( 'ounty; D. w. Jackson, senator. Miner County; John Colvin, 
speaker, house of representatives. 
George B. Daly, representative, Brown County; L. M. Benson, 
representative, Brown County; W. E. Kidd, representative, 
Brown County: Henry Alwes, representative, Minnehaha 
(ounty; Ole P. Oleson, representative, Yankton County; A. II. 
Oleson, representative, Lawrence County; Henry Court, rep- 
resentative, Lawrence County; J. Power, representative. Lake 
County; M. 11. Ilegdal, representative, Lake County; Moses 
Moseson, representative, Miner County; S. T. Johnson, repre- 
sentative, Brookings County; Peter Peterson, representative. 
Brookings County; L. E. Blackstone, representative, Kings- 
bury County; G. W. Anderson, representative, Kingsbury 
County; F. G. King, representative, Potter County; Ed Brus- 
seau, representative, Union County; C. W. Deane, represent- 
ative. Union County; P. H. McManus. representative, Hanson 
County; Otto Anderson, representative, Pennington County; 
Zach Holmes, representative, Pennington County; B. F. 
Wright, representative, Moody County: O. D. Anderson, rep- 
resentative, Aurora County; Irving A. Weeks, representative, 
Brule County; Ole L. Hanse, representative, Day County; D. G. 
Bruce, representative. Fall River County; H. S. Mastick, rep- 
resentative, Meade County; B. N. Oliver, representative, Cus- 
ter County. 

The Aberdeen (S. Dak.) Star, published at Mr. Kyle's home, 
commented as follows upon the foregoing i*esoiution: 

It is the duty of the members of tho People's Party of this Stata to openly 
repudiate Mr. Kyle. 

As the facts in tho infamous deal which resulted in his reelection to the 
Senate come to light it appears that KYLE was to pose as a Populist and re- 
main in the People's Party as a disorganizing: element. In this way he can 
be more serviceable to the Republicans than by openly joining their ranks. 

There is one way, and one way only, to insure the future of the People's 
Party in this State, and that is by applying the knife freely to the running 
sore that is afflicting it. Kyle has long been an obstacle to party progress. 
His whole influence has been cast on the side of conservatism. He has, so far 
as his influence counted, smothered every radical movement of tho party. 
His presence has been irritating, and all advance for three years has been 
made in spite of him and not because of him. 

Now that he has openly betrayed tho party there should be no hesitation 
in spewing him out. There is no room for traitors in the party. Lot him g« 
over to the party which bought him. And there is no room for Kylo parti- 
sans in tho People's Party. The ranks must close over the little gap he has 
left, and we must proceed to business in front of us. But that there shall be 
no mistake. People's committees should denounce the scamp and define their 
position. Mr. Kyle has basely betrayed us and can not remain our repre- 
sentative. And this fact should bo publicly proclaimed to tho people of tho 
State. 

A Pierre news telegram says: 

Piekrk, March 8, 1S98. 
On the evening of tho day on which Kyle, by Republican votes, was re- 
elected United States Senator, the free-silver members met and unanimously 
adopted the resolutions given below. The publication of these was withheld 
until the adjournment of the legislature, but they aro now released, and are 
given to the public that no one need be deceived as to tho standing of the 
archtraitor in the party of this State. 

The resolution was signed by forty-four members of the legis- 
lature. 

3470 



Here is a letter from Mr. Sweet, who was a Republican mem- 
ber of the legislature and refused to become a party to the deal. 
It is as follows: 

Representative Sweet, of Hutchinson, the only Republican who refused to 
vote for Kyle, is out in a long 1 letter, in which he says, speaking of Kyle: 

'• He has uniformly voted in favor of free silver, in favor of free wool, in 
favor of free barley, and in favor of every proposition advocated by the ultra- 
Pop-Democrats of either branch of Congress. I copy from his speech at the 
ratification held at Pierre, February 18, 1891: 

" ' My first leanings toward the Democratic party commenced fifteen years 
ago, and when I found the affairs of my country dominated by a Republican 
ring. 1 withdrew from the party and jo'ined the opposition. The platform of 
the Democratic party is the same as the Independent, and is the platform I 
stand upon.' 

" These were the words of Senator Kyle six years ago. These words, his 
Senatorial history, and the Republican denunciation of his course flashed 
through my mind when I was informed by one of the Republican steering 
committee about two hours before he was elected last Thursday that he had 
promised, in case the Republicans would turn in and reelect him, to hereafter 
vote with the Republicans on all measures except the money question. I ab- 
horred the suggestion. It was too bitter a dish of crow for me to swallow, 
but 1 was not struck dumb. I expressed my ideas to the member in classic 
language and notified him that he need not count me in the deal. 

******* 

" I do not doubt that he will vote with the Administration on tariff questions 
for the next six years as honestly as he has voted with the free traders dur- 
ing the past six years. Even for this advantage in the Senate of the United 
States I can not believe it was good policy to elect him with Republican votes, 
and do not regret that I did not give him one. If my friends and constituents 
think that I made a mistake, I must differ with them honestly and crave their 
indulgence, and earnestly request them to send a better and more pliablo 
man next time to represent them at the State capital. 

"E. T. SWEET. 

"Pierre, February 22, 1897." 

Now. the facts in the matter are these: Right after the election 
of 1896 the leading Republican papers of the State advocated the 
election of Mr. Kyle. Their representatives visited the Repub- 
lican national committee, visited those members of the national 
committee who had this matter in charge, and during November 
and December, before the legislature met, we well knew there was 
an understanding by which Mr. Kyle was to be elected to the Sen- 
ate by Republicans, and that he was to stand by the Administra- 
tion when needed. These representatives of the Republican party, 
the national committeemen and others, as I said before, visited 
their national committee, or members of the national committee, 
and arranged a complete understanding. 

These facts are well known in the State. There is no possible 
doubt about it in the minds of anybody. Mr. Pickler was the 
Republican nominee for the Senate. He was urged to withdraw. 
While the national committee did not directly ask that he should 
withdraw in favor of Mr. Kyle, it is significant that at the time 
the national committee wrote their letter asking Mr. Pickler to 
withdraw, the men whom Pickler was told to consult, Mr. Kit- 
tredge, who was the national Republican committeeman, and Mr. 
Elliott, chairman of the Republican State central committee, 
were openly working for Mr. Kyle. They published interviews 
urging Kyle's election. In this connection the following letter 
from Henry Payne is quite pertinent: 

[Republican national committee— Chicago headquarters— M. A. Hanna. chair 
man, Henry C. Payne, Charles G. Dawes, W. T. Durbin, Cyrus Leland, Ed 
win F. Brown, subtreasurer] 

Milwaukee, Wis., February 3, 1897. 

My Dear Sik: I have yours of the 14th instant, which I have carefully read 

The national committee will do anything proper to aid in your election, or in 

the election of any good Republican from South Dakota, or the election of 

any other person who would act with the Administration on the tariff ques- 

34 ro 



tion; but we look to Mr. Elliott, tho chairman of your State oommitli ' 

to Mr. Kittredge, member ol the national committee from South Dakota, to 
point the way wherein we can exercise our Inflnenoe. 

These two men, Mr. Kittredgo and Mr. Elliott, were publicly urg- 
ing tho election of Mr. Kyle. The Republican papers were all 

urging it and publishing articles about it constantly. This letter 
is dated February 8. They had then been at work for two or thri e 
months urging the election of Mr. Kyi.k. 

Continuing, the letter to Mr. Pickler from the Republican com- 
mittee says: 

"We have been advised that it will bo impossible tosecnre your election; 
that the flight between t lie factions of tho 1'opulists anil Democrats i; so in- 
tense that there might bo a chanco to elect some Republican who has not 
been quite so conspicuous in the party as you have. 

Recalling our conversation and what you say in your letter, r have no 
doubt you will be ready to withdraw your name in case the steering com- 
mittee advise you to do so. 

Referring to the same steering committee that went to Mr. 
Sweet and told him what the deal was. He refused to bo a party 
to it and refused to vote for Mr. Kyle. The letter to Mr. Pickler 
concludes: 

We have felt that any active interference by the national committee 
would be resented by the" local Republicans. You may be sure that we aro 
intensely anxious regarding tho result; so much depends upon getting an 
Administration Senator from your State. It probably means the control or 
loss of control of the United States Senate. 

We shall appreciate the sacrifice made by you if you should withdraw, and 
can only urge that you take this course for the reason that it would seem to 
have been demonstrated that your election is impossible. 

I would gladly go to Pierre,but am quite sure that it would do more harm 
than good. 

Very truly, yours, H. C. PAYNE. 

Hon. J. A. Pickler, Pierre, 8. Dal: 

I came into possession of this letter in a way that authorizes me 
to use it, and I feel that the country has a right to know and the 
people of South Dakota have a right to know the facts. If there 
has been a transaction through which support for a certain meas- 
ure has been purchased with an office, and the goods have been 
delivered, you might as well stand up and admit it, and not dodge 
around it with misleading subterfuges and equivocating expres- 
sions. 

I could read extracts from the leading papers of tho State of 
South Dakota— the Ruralist, and the Star, and various other 
papers— in which they comment on this transaction, but the drift 
is all the same. There is scarcely a Populist paper in the State 
that did not at the time consider the transaction as a corrupt 
bargain and sale. 

Mr. President, the shame and disgrace of this transaction is 
keenly felt by the people of South Dakota. Without regard to 
political affiliations, all respectable people in the State repudiate 
the corrupt transaction, and they also repudiate my colleague. I 
do not believe he could get an audience on any subject in any 
town in the State. He is despised by all the People's Party and 
by most Democrats, while the respectable portion of the Repub- 
lican partv hold him in supreme contempt. 

Mr. KYLE. Mr. President, the Senator has very correctly 
stated my training as regards economic views. I was brought up 
a Republican, and during all the years of my career as a Repub- 
lican I held to the doctrines of low tariff and bimetallism. 1 stand 
there to-day. Everybody in the Senate, everybody m my State, 
knows just where I have stood in the past and where I stand now. 

5470 



I supported the Wilson tariff act of 1894. That was by no means 
a free-trade measure, but a very high protective tariff bill. I 
voted for it because I thought it was better than the McKinley 
tariff act. I think so yet. I so expressed myself in the Senate at 
that time. 

So far as free trade is concerned, it is a theory, and never as an 
actuality has it been practiced in any government that pretends 
to raise revenue. The only question is where the tariff shall ba 
placed. Some people think upon one article and some upon 
another. That is all there is of it. My bimetallic views are like- 
wise known to everybody here. 

So far as any corrupt trade is concerned, I merely wish to refer 
to it. It is a falsehood, malicious, intentionally malicious, from 
beginning to end. The members of the national committee, prob- 
ably some of them are upon the floor, understood from the mouths 
of the steering committee in Pierre last winter everything that 
was done, and what I said before and in the papers I say here in 
the presence of this body. Not one single thing was done that 
could not come out here in open light of day and to the full knowl- 
edge of the Senate. 

The reason for the step taken by the Republican party in tha 
Senatorial contest was because they felt that a radical Populist 
would come to the United States Senate instead of myself, and they 
preferred to vote for me because of my conservative course during 
the past six years and because I made my campaign for reelection 
on an antisocialistic platform. 

As regards the passage of the late tariff bill, I stated my position 
to my colleague from Nebraska, Senator Allen, two or three 
months before I went back to the Senatorial contest, and he un- 
derstands it well. I published in the press at Minneapolis at the 
time — November, 1890, after the Presidential election — a statement 
that, under all the circumstances, the thi"ee branches of the United 
States Government should be in the hands of one party. The Ex- 
ecutive was Republican, the House was Republican, and the Sen- 
ate should be the same for the good of the country. Also the 
Senator from Nebraska and others of us agreed at that time to 
remain silent when a new tariff act should come up for passage, 
preferring not to obstruct, and thus give the party in power every 
opportunity to bring prosperity to the country. 

Everybody knew my position. The people of my State knew 
that 1 would not obstruct the tariff. Our votes were not con- 
sidered a necessity. The same is true in regard to the revenue 
measure. Everybody knows these things, and the question was 
never asked whether or not I would vote for these propositions. 

I wish to state now that the malicious attacks to which my col- 
league refers, from the South Dakota Ruralist.the Star, and simi- 
lar papers in my State, are from the pen and brains of socialists 
stinging under defeat, and whom our people will never intrust 
with the responsibility of State affairs. Some of these papers 
have already gone to their doom, and the rest will follow. They 
ought not to receive consideration from respectable citizens of 
our State. I shall not take time to reply to these things now, but 
I shall hope to hereafter. It is now late in the evening, but I 
wish to add in closing that this whole thing, the statements of 
my colleague, are malicious fabrications from beginning to end, 
and the man who asserts them is as corrupt and mendacious an 
the charges he makes. 

Mr. PETTIGREW. Mr. President, the rather remarkable 
aim 



speech gust deli vered by my colleague shows such lack of moral 
perception, such want of principle, that 1 am forced to the con- 
clusion that his opinions and convictions have been so long sub- 
jected to harter and sale that ho can no1 appreciate or comprehend 
the enormity of his acts. Mr. Kyle made the campaign of \-'"'> 
as a Populist, stumping the State for Bryan and advocating 
throughout, every principle of the PopulistiO party. lie solicited 
money to make his campaign for the Senate from the Demot 
Congressional campaign committee and received large aumSi 
While tho legislature was in session reports of his disgraceful 
trade reached the senate and Mr. EVLE was asked by wire if tho 
reports were true. 

He denounced all such stories as false. He makes the same de- 
fense now, but his worthless word will have no weight against :'. 
mass of evidence so conclusive of his perfidy. 

The following editorial from the Aberdeen Star. Kyi.i.'s homo 
Populist paper, will throw some light on this subject: 

Although Kyle publicly denies that he has any understanding with tho 
Republicans, the latter generally believe the story which is current that 

ho has committed himself to support all Republican measures with I 
eeption of free silver. Your correspondent was informed to-nighl by a Re- 
publican who has been working on the combination that t he interview which 

resulted in the agreement took place this morning. There were pi mi 

Kyle, Pickler, one of Kyle's managers, ami two of the Republican sb 
committee. The in) srview was protracted, and during it the whole ground 
was covered. 

Kyle agreed to vote with tho Republicans— to vote for the tariff measure 
and every Republican measure. He reserved the right to vote upon the 
question as he saw fit. but qualified this reservation byexplainin 
the last election bethought that a measure for the free and unlimited 
ageof silver alono would not probably come to a vote in ('(ingress, and should 
it come up be would not vote for it if it were in Buch shape as to Imperil the 
passage of any other Administration measure. Tho talk was so explicit and 
the understanding so perfect that the Republican members of the legisla- 
ture were readilv induced to agree to the arrangement. No caucus was held, 
but the committee saw the members separately, and the whole affair was 
managed so quietly that nothing leaked out till the whole business was ar- 
ranged. One Republican— Sweet, of Hutchinson— refused to gointothedeaL 

Here is another newspaper account of the conspiracy: 
On Monday last. 15th instant, tho Populists caucused and adjourned to 
meet last Thursday night. In the meantime they had agreed upon a caucus 
nominee. This decision soon reached the ears of the Republicans, who at 
once began to rally to meet the emergency. Major Pickler had read • 
conclusion that it "would be impi Bsibie to elect a pronounced Republican and 
gracefully withdrew from the contest and went to work with the Bepuo- 

It was soon ascertained that Kyle could muster l3votes that could be 
counted on from start to finish, and the greatest political maneuver thai v.. is 
ever successfully earned o„t in the siate began. Itwasno ","',""; 

vince some of the Republican members that the time had c to act, and tii.it 

there was no time to spare, and the work was not completed antii i 
in the morning, Thursday. In hallways of the Locke I iblicanswere 

flitting about in their night robes, while the silver forces slept m adjoining 
rooms unsuspectingly. 

Mr. BUTLER. Will the S nato from South Dakota yield to 
me one moment? 

Mr. PETT1GREW. I yield. 

Mr BUTLER. The Senator said ho was net able yet to place 
his colleague. His colleague stated that he thought the Senate 
ought to bo Republican, inasmuch as the President was Repub- 
lican and the House was Republican, and. of course, th< r 
he had to make himself a Republican to make that majority. 
Therefore, let it be understood from now on that th< 
Republican and by the admission of the Senator whose vote is 
necessary to make it Republican. 
3170 



8 

Mr. PETT1GREW. I will say in this connection that my col- 
league on the 30th of December, 1895, made a statement to that 
effect, and 1 think we can safely class him as a man without con- 
viction or character — a Republican, for revenue only. 

The proposition that a member of the United [States Senate 
finds it his duty to abandon his party and ally himself with the 
opposition party for the purpose of giving his political opponents 
entire control of the Government is one never before enunciated 
since political organizations divided the sentiments of a self- 
governing people. The public servant who is conscientiously 
ready to swap political conviction for governmental symmetry 
can not be far in advance of the heavenly announcement that i3 
to usher in the millennium. 

This would certainly be the case in the absence of controlling 
ch - cumstances, but the coincidence of an election by Republican 
votes and an anxiety for the political welfare of a Republican Ad- 
ministration tends to rudely dissolve the illusion Mr. Kyle seeks 
to establish on the basis of an abnormal conscience. We of South 
Dakota have known him in all his varied phases, and he will never 
be able to square himself with the public through the creation of 
flimsy pretexts in excuse for oft-repeated political apostacy. 

He has now abandoned every position held by the People's Party, 
and within two weeks has voted against taxing corporations, against 
an income tax, against issuing greenbacks or money direct by the 
Government, against postal savings banks, in favor of the issue of 
bonds, and against amending the Washington street-car charters! 
so as to limit the length of the franchise. 

As a reward for all this treachery and betrayal of principle, he 
basks in the smiles of the Republican Administration, and receives 
his pay in appointments for his friends. These favors he un- 
blushingly solicits as the consideration for his votes. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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